Ramadan
Ramadan (Arabic: رَمَضَان, romanized: Ramaḍān [ra.ma.dˤaːn]; also spelled Ramazan, Ramzan, Ramadhan or Ramathan) is the ninth month of the Islamic calendar, observed by Muslims worldwide as a month of fasting (sawm), prayer, reflection, and community. A commemoration of Muhammad's first revelation, the annual observance of Ramadan is regarded as one of the Five Pillars of Islam and lasts twenty-nine to thirty days, from one sighting of the crescent moon to the next.
| Ramadan رَمَضَان | |
|---|---|
From top, left to right: A crescent moon over Sarıçam, Turkey, marking the beginning of the Islamic month of Ramadan; Ramadan Quran reading in Bandar Torkaman, Iran; community Iftar meal in Dubai, United Arab Emirates; Tarawah prayers in a mosque in West Sumatra, Indonesia; foods served at a traditional Iftar meal; Ramadan decorations in Jerusalem; Zakat donation boxes in Taipei, Taiwan. | |
| Also called |
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| Observed by | Muslims |
| Type | Religious |
| Celebrations | Community iftars and Community prayers |
| Observances | |
| Begins | At the last night of the month of Sha'ban |
| Ends | At the last night of the month of Ramadan |
| Date | Variable (follows the Islamic lunar calendar) |
| 2024 date | 11 March - 8 April |
| Frequency | Annual (lunar calendar) |
| Related to | Eid al-Fitr, Qadr Night |
Fasting from dawn to sunset is fard (obligatory) for all adult Muslims who are not acutely or chronically ill, travelling, elderly, breastfeeding, diabetic, or menstruating. The predawn meal is referred to as suhur, and the nightly feast that breaks the fast is called iftar. Although fatwas have been issued declaring that Muslims who live in regions with a midnight sun or polar night should follow the timetable of Mecca, it is common practice to follow the timetable of the closest country in which night can be distinguished from day.
The spiritual rewards (thawab) of fasting are believed to be multiplied during Ramadan. Accordingly, during the hours of fasting Muslims refrain not only from food and drink, but also tobacco products, sexual relations, and sinful behavior, devoting themselves instead to salat (prayer) and study of the Quran.